Calling All Hot Shots

I did see quite a few in Texas a few weeks ago. I have not noticed as many running on the east coast. There used to be a lot of them running all over the country. I think rates dropped too low and many of the hot shot people got out of the business.

 

A friend of mine is wanting to buy a 21ft rollback to haul cars, equipment, and whatever else we can fit on it. It has a trailer hitch as well if needed on the stinger. I will be driving it for him, he is just the business/financial backer. I have driven rollbacks for 5 years so I am familiar with laws and regulations. He is paying cash for it and buying a years worth of insurance up front.

My question is does anyone know where I can find any hot shot loads to haul? We can do cars but everyone hauls them for so cheap I don't see how they make money at it. I see where they are hauling them for what it would cost to fill up the truck. I mostly want to stay in the southeast for now because this will be a part time thing until it gets going.

 

I am not sure why you would want to buy a rollback unless you plan on hauling cars. You may be able to haul forklifts or perhaps other machinery that isn't heavy or very large. A friend of mine does haul cars on a wedge and dually. He is averaging a decent rate so far. With only 21' on the deck you won't be able to haul more than one car at a time unless you pull a trailer. I think that if you want to do hotshot freight that it would be much better to get a dually or 2 wheel tractor and pull a goose-neck, step deck or wedge, depending on the type of freight you want to haul. With only 21' you are greatly limiting yourself. You might be able to haul machinery from equipment rental companies. That would get you home every night.

 

We planned on towing cars locally or transporting them to other states if someone needed them moved. We are hoping to find small crates of like air conditioning units and that nature that can be hauled as well.

I don't have a class A license yet. I should have had it by now but that is another story. So we are staying under the 26,000 pounds for now and trying to just grow from small to large. I don't mind hauling cars on a wedge but once you attach a trailer to the rollback and load it down with cars you will be over 26k pounds and be considered a combination load. Not sure if the duallys with a fifth wheel and wedge trailer fall under that yet. I heard the FMCSA was talking about it at one time.

So if decide to go with a dually and a wedge trailer, where do you find cars to haul? I use to see those trucks and trailers all the time running up and down the highways. I don't hardly see any anymore around where I am. Just wondered if the business for that is still around.

 

All the above being said, we are in a position to pretty much do what we want as far as purchasing a vehicle or vehicle with trailer. So if the chances of success are better with a dually and a wedge or step deck trailer then I will certainly check into it.

No matter which way we go, I still need to find goods to haul and and not sure where to look. That is the biggest thing I need help with. My friend has the cash, he is just waiting on me to research and find the best venture that will make us the most money.

 

You can find rollbacks that can haul 3 or 4 vehicles and then pull a dolly or trailer behind that can handle 1 or 2 more vehicles.

 

What MPG do you achieve with a large pick up and 10K lbs of freight on the trailer?

 

I would stay away from hauling cars. True car haulers and specialized hot shots are very efficient at it keeping prices low.